Education chiefs have thanked staff for keeping as many schools open as possible during a week of winter weather.

It was business as usual in County Durham yesterday, with none of the education authority's 306 schools shut because of winter weather for the first time this week.

Improved overnight conditions meant every school was open, whereas on some days this week more than a quarter had to close because of the snow and ice. Education director Keith Mitchell, said: "Thanks to all of the staff in schools who tried to maintain `normal services'."